A/N: Here's the next chapter! Only two or three left after this. If the time and setting indicator has no name after it, that means it's in third point of view. Here we go!
The Phantom Turnabout
Day 3 – Trial Pt 1
July 23rd, 9:50 AM
District Court
Defendant's Lobby 3
Danny Fenton
I paced around the lobby, glancing at my watch again. Court started at ten. I knew that.
So then where was Mr. Wright? Maya was standing in the corner, trying to reach him on her cell phone, but to no avail. She glanced over at me, chewing on her lip, before dialing something and putting the phone back to her ear.
"Hello?" she said. I immediately darted over, thinking Mr. Wright had finally picked up.
"Hey, Apollo. Are you in the courthouse?" she said. I sighed. No such luck. Of course it wasn't Mr. Wright.
"Can you come to Defendant Lobby 3? Thanks," Maya said, hanging up.
"What was that about?" I asked when she turned to me.
"I can't get a hold of Nick. I tried his cell, house, and office phone, but he didn't answer any of them," she said, nibbling on her thumb nail.
"What does that mean? Has he ever done this before?" I demanded. Maya looked at me for a moment before shaking her head.
"No. He's never done this before. I think something's wrong," she said before sighing. "I called one of the other attorneys who works for the Wright Anything Agency, Apollo."
"Hey Maya, what's wrong?" a voice suddenly said from the door. My ghost sense went off at the same time. I quickly looked around, but whoever it was must be invisible, or in a different room. I frowned slightly at this, but ignored it for now. Looking over at the door, I saw a man in red with brown eyes and hair. His hair was… interesting, to say the least. There were two locks in the front that looked like they were gelled to stick straight up. Odd.
Behind him was a girl with slightly darker hair and dark eyes. She seemed like she was my age, maybe a year or two older, and wore an outfit I could only describe as a magician's outfit.
"Did you read the case files?" Maya demanded of him. He took a step back.
"Well, of course," he said. Maya seemed to relax with a nod before looking back at me.
"Danny, this is Apollo Justice. Apollo… Nick won't answer his phone. I can't get a hold of him," she said. The girl looked thoughtful.
"Maybe Daddy is sleeping late?" she said. I stared at her for a minute before thinking about Mr. Wright. He must have been a young dad…
"Maybe… but court's about to start," Maya said. Apollo nodded.
"Then I'll cover for him while you go wake his lazy butt up," he said. Maya nodded.
"Alright, thanks," she said.
"I'm going to go with Maya, Polly. Good luck!" she said, following the spirit medium out. Apollo nodded, watching them leave, before turning to face me.
"Don't worry. Everything will be okay," he said. I nodded slightly, a sick feeling filling my stomach.
"Alright. Thanks, Mr. Justice," I said.
"Court is about to begin! Will the defense please enter the court room," the officer said. Apollo nodded before smiling at me.
"Here we go."
July 23rd, 10:03 AM
District Court
Court Room 3
Danny Fenton
I walked over to the defendant's chair and sat, just as my ghost sense went off again. Looking around, I still couldn't find the stupid thing. That worried me, a lot. However, since I wasn't able to do anything at the moment, I turned my attention to the Prosecutor's bench. Mr. Wright had said that the Chief Prosecutor, Miles Edgeworth, would be taking over for Walker. He seemed like a very capable man. His gray hair was so dark, it was almost black, and he was wearing a smart pair of half-frame glasses. His wardrobe was a little questionable, though, considering it was mainly pink with some frilly scarf-type thing on his neck.
"Court will now reconvene for the case of Daniel Fenton. Is the prosecution ready?" the judge asked.
"Yes, your honor," Mr. Edgeworth said. I could hear the slightest trace of an English accent in his voice.
"Is the defense ready?"
"Yes, your honor," Apollo said. I quickly turned to look at him. His tone of voice sounded different and, to my horror, I could see why.
His eyes were green.
"My, my, Mr. Edgeworth. It's not often the Chief Prosecutor himself stands in court," the judge said. Mr. Edgewoth smiled with a shrug and a shake of his head.
"After discovering the Prosecutor previously on this case was a fraud, I thought it wise to take matters into my own hands," he said.
"WHAT!?" Dad roared, standing. Mom was quick next to him, looking just as angry.
"ORDER! ORDER!" the judge yelled, slamming his hammer thingy. Over the commotion, Mr. Edgeworth spoke to my parents.
"Do not worry, Mr. and Mrs. Fenton. I will make sure Daniel Fenton gets the sentence he deserves." Mr. Edgeworth turned and looked at Apollo, studying him for a moment. "Although I was under the impression it would be Wright I would be facing. Not one of his subordinates."
"Something came up," Apollo, or rather, the ghost inside Apollo, said. Edgeworth frowned slightly at the defense attorney, seeming to notice something strange with him. I hoped against hope that he would realize that Apollo wasn't himself.
"Well, Mr. Justice, it's a pleasure to meet you formally. I look forward to facing you for the first time in the courtroom," Mr. Edgeworth said.
(REALLY!?) I turned my head slightly, searching out Sam and Tucker in the gallery and meeting their eyes.
They immediately got the message.
July 23rd, 10:45 AM
Wright Anything Agency
Hallway
"I can't believe the agency is so far away from the courthouse," Maya huffed as she walked up the stairs. Trucy a step behind her.
"It's not," Trucy panted. "Our apartment is so far away from the courthouse AND the office. And traffic sucked."
"And that taxi driver was a jerk," Maya complained before stopping in front of the door that lead into the Wright Anything Agency.
"I hope Daddy's here," Trucy said, pulling out her key.
"I think he is. Where else would he be?" Maya asked. Trucy shrugged at the question, unlocking the door, and opening it. There was no sign of Phoenix in the reception room, so the two moved further in, over to the door that lead into the office. Trucy pushed it open, and gasped.
"DADDY!" she cried.
"NICK!" Maya gasped.
July 23rd, 10:50 AM
District Court
Court Room 3
"Whoops. Sorry, your honor," Mr. Justice said, not sounding sorry at all as the Judge penalized him once again. Miles frowned as he watched the defense attorney. Something had seemed off to him from the beginning, though he couldn't place what it was.
Danny groaned softly, burying his face in his hands. Miles glanced over at the poor kid. He suspected Danny was innocent, but without a competent enough DA to prove as much, like Wright, Miles couldn't do anything. His hands were tied.
Just then, the sound of a cell phone went off. Miles shook his head as Apollo pulled his phone out, seeming surprised at first. Then he hit a button on it, and the ringing cut off. He then placed the phone back in his pocket.
"Mr. Justice! What was that all about!?" the Judge demanded.
"I'm sorry, your honor. I must have forgotten to turn my phone on silent," he said, before rummaging through his evidence, pulling out a paper.
"TAKE THAT!" he yelled, putting his Chords of Steel to use. Miles simply looked unimpressed.
"Are you even trying anymore, Mr. Justice?" he snapped, his patience at an end.
"More like 'Just is'," the Judge said in an impatient voice, penalizing the defense yet again. Danny buried his hands in his face with yet another groan.
"I'm doomed…" he muttered into his hands.
Just then, another cell phone went off.
" MR. JUSTICE, THAT BETTER NOT BE YOU AGAIN!" the judge boomed.
"It's not! Really!" Apollo said, holding his hands up defensively. Miles pulled his own phone out, recognizing the ringtone, and looked at the caller ID.
'Trucy Wright'
"Hello?" he said as he answered it.
"Mr. Edgeworth!?" Trucy gasped from the other end of the line. It sounded like she was crying, or scared. Or both.
"Mr. Edgeworth!" the judge gasped, sounding surprised. Miles held up a finger, and the judge fell quiet.
"Trucy. What is it? What's wrong?" Miles asked.
"I-It's Daddy. He didn't show up to court today, so Polly covered him while Maya and I went to find him. We found him in his office, unconscious, and we can't wake him up!" she said, her words running together with how fast she was talking. Miles started slightly at that news.
"Trucy, is he breathing? Does he have a pulse?" Miles demanded into the phone. Everyone started muttering worriedly at those questions.
"H-he's breathing. I think he has a pulse. Maya doesn't know how to check, and my hands are shaking, but I think I felt something," Trucy said. Miles nodded.
"Call 911. I'll meet you at the hospital," he said before hanging up on the poor girl.
"Mr. Edgeworth, what's going on?" the judge asked.
"Something's wrong with Mr. Wright. That was his daughter. She and Miss. Maya Fey found him in his office, but he's unconscious and they can't wake him up."
"What?" Apollo gasped, his eyes flickering, just for a moment, from green to brown.
…
A/N: Okay, so… this one's shorter than the past few. I was going to make it the full trial, really! Buuuut… I decided to be evil.
After all, this is the first cliff hanger I've really left for you all since this story began, right? By the way, I don't often write third person for a reason.
Right. 'Till next time! Ciao!